1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The stasis of the play begins before David Hwang casts Marcus "Gee" in his newest production. David is shown to be very passionate about how a white man should not be cast in an Asian role in the production of "Miss Saigon"
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Yellow Face and how is it broken?
The intrusion is when David finds out that Marcus is not actually Asian. He finds out that Marcus is instead white. Since the production has already gained popularity, David chooses to not fire Marcus from his role.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The Unique factor within Yellow Face is that David casts Marcus who is white as a Asian american role within his production.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will everyone find out that Marcus is not actually Asian?
Can the "american dream" be achieved still?
Can color blind casting happen?
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
David must overcome the obstacles of himself vs society and himself. In the beginning he criticized the casting of someone who is white in an Asian role within Miss Saigon. Even though he criticized it so much, he is now in the same situation. He has become what he initially despised. He must overcome the lie he has caught himself in as well as the hatred from people in society for casting and keeping Marcus on the production.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
The first major theatrical moment within Yellow face would be when Marcus admits to Jane that he is in fact white and not Asian american. The second theatrical moment is when Marcus comes to find out that he is infact being investigated. Last, the third most theatrical moment is when it is revealed by David that Marcus is not a real person.
The stasis of the play begins before David Hwang casts Marcus "Gee" in his newest production. David is shown to be very passionate about how a white man should not be cast in an Asian role in the production of "Miss Saigon"
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Yellow Face and how is it broken?
The intrusion is when David finds out that Marcus is not actually Asian. He finds out that Marcus is instead white. Since the production has already gained popularity, David chooses to not fire Marcus from his role.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The Unique factor within Yellow Face is that David casts Marcus who is white as a Asian american role within his production.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will everyone find out that Marcus is not actually Asian?
Can the "american dream" be achieved still?
Can color blind casting happen?
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
David must overcome the obstacles of himself vs society and himself. In the beginning he criticized the casting of someone who is white in an Asian role within Miss Saigon. Even though he criticized it so much, he is now in the same situation. He has become what he initially despised. He must overcome the lie he has caught himself in as well as the hatred from people in society for casting and keeping Marcus on the production.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
The first major theatrical moment within Yellow face would be when Marcus admits to Jane that he is in fact white and not Asian american. The second theatrical moment is when Marcus comes to find out that he is infact being investigated. Last, the third most theatrical moment is when it is revealed by David that Marcus is not a real person.